DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1940, Page 9

DOMINION NEWS

ELECTRICIAN’S DEATH. WELLINGTON, February 13. Fatal injuries were received by John H. Darby, s.ngle, an electrician employed by the New Zealand Railways, when he fell about 18 feet from ] a pole on to a concrete bas-, half-way between Plimmerton and Paramata, about 4.30 p.m. to-day. Darby was climbing a pole at the railways sub-station and was about half-way up when a foot slipped on one of the steps. He received head injuries and concussion. The free ambulance was called, put Darby wa; dead when it arrived. CANTERBURY QUAKES. CHRISTCHURCH, February 14. Two earthquake shocks were felt in Christchurch and surrounding districts yesterday. One was at 2.53 : p.m., and the other at 3.5 p.m. Their ( centre was about 21 miles from] Christchurch, according to seismogra-| phical readings. j Inquiries at the observatory show-j. ed that although it was possilbe to , ascertain the distance of the shock it j was not possible to ascertain the di- ; rection. The observatory has instru- < ments which can show the direction of long-distance earthquakes, but ( lacks those to show the direction of . short-distance quakes. With these ] the distance only can be determined. i The result is that the locat on can i be determined only by reports*- of the ] severity of the shock from varying j districts. The shock was reported ; to have been in New Brigh- t ton: in Rangiora the first shock was 1 sufficiently severe to cause persons in < shops and offices to run into the 1 street. In many buildings electric 1 lights and ornaments swayed. 1 NEW WELLINGTON LIBRARY. 1 I WELLINGTON, February 14. i Wellington’s outstanding centennial i contribution to the cultural side of community life, the new Central Lib- , rary, was officially opened yesterday by the Mayor, (Mr T. C. A. Hislop), ? in the presence of a large gathering. ' As stated by the speakers, it was one of the first acts of the pioneer settlers 100 years ago to found a library J in Wellington, and it was fitting that - the start of the second century of the ' capital and New Zealand should be marked with the opening of such a fine library. In several congratulatory messages from distinguished overseas librarians hope was express- I cd that Wellington would soon have a free library system in place of thesubscription method, but the Mayoi said that the time had not yet coni-' , for this. j MISSING WOMAN. ] WELLINGTON, February 13. Miss Sidney Susette Allen, aged 23. ‘ who left her home in Hawker Street, Well'ngton, at 3.15 p.m. on Sunday } saying she was going for a swim, nas ( not been seen since. She is stated to be sft 2in in height, Jhas curly hair, . brown eyes, and olive complexion. ( She was last seen, wearing a rust- j coloured swagger coat, print frock < and no hat. ( CHRISTCHURCH, February 14. t “The last time the petrol restric-' ( tions were brought into force, we r found it necessary to eleven 1 people before the Court, for storing , more than the amount allowed, out ( apparently this warn'ng was not. enough,” said the Chief City Inspector, J. W. Huggins, in Court, when ( prosecuting Frank Caruth Renai, oi c storing more than eight and a-hall x gallons of petrol without a license. j A fine of 20s, with costs, was irn- , posed. i Renai had bought twenty-four gal- t lons prior to the restrictions, and c stored it in the backyard of a flat, v said the insoecotr. <